Washington (AP) - During the fundraising quarter in which Sen. Arlen Specter switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party, he raised about $1.7 million, his campaign said Tuesday.
 
The five-term Specter now has about $7.5 million to spend.
 
In comparison, his likely 2010 Democratic primary challenger, Rep. Joe Sestak from suburban Philadelphia, raised more than $1 million during the same period and has $4.2 million in cash.
 
In April, Specter severed his decades-long ties to the GOP. The three-month long fundraising quarter ended June 30.
 
When he made the switch, Specter offered to give money back to any donors who asked for it back. He's since given back $225,000 - about $150,000 from individuals and $75,000 from political action committees, said Chris Nicholas, his campaign manager.
 
On the GOP side, the National Republican Senatorial Committee on Tuesday endorsed former northeast Pennsylvania Rep. Pat Toomey. Toomey nearly beat Specter in the 2004 primary, and he's running again.
 
He raised about $1.6 million in the period and has $1.1 million in cash.
 
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the NRSC chairman, said Toomey is "clearly guided by principles instead of political opportunism."
 
Fellow conservative Peg Luksik has raised more than $81,000 for her race, and has about $23,000 in cash.